Suspect refuses judge’s questions at hearing for charges in death of Orlando police officer
ORLANDO, Fla. — Markeith Loyd refused to answer a judge’s questions Friday morning and repeatedly tried interrupting her while she read a series of charges he faces in the death of Orlando police Lt. Debra Clayton.
Loyd, 41, wouldn’t give his name or say if he wants a lawyer, but continued to ask Judge Jeanette Dejuras Bigney to state her name “for the record.”
“The lady in the black dress, can I have your name please?” Loyd asked, while talking over Bigney.
This was the second day in a row Loyd appeared in front of Bigney. He had a hearing Thursday morning on charges related to the Dec. 13 shooting death of his pregnant ex-girlfriend, Sade Dixon.
At Friday’s hearing, Loyd had on a blue jail jumpsuit and was flanked by corrections officers. He still had a square of white gauze covering his left eye.
The hearing was much shorter and expletive-free — a stark comparison to Thursday’s hearing, when Loyd went on a profanity-laced rant offering a defense for his accused crimes.
After Loyd refused to give his name, Bigney said she recognized him from the morning before. She started reading the charges he faces, including first degree murder of a law enforcement officer, attempted first degree murder and wearing a bulletproof vest, and continued with an even tone despite Loyd’s attempts to interrupt her.
Loyd remains in jail on no bond.
Loyd was arrested Tuesday after a massive manhunt that started Jan. 9 when Clayton was gunned down outside a Wal-Mart in Orlando. He had been wanted since Dixon’s death in December and police said Loyd killed Clayton when she tried to confront him at the store.
Police officially filed charges against him in Clayton’s death Thursday evening, and he now faces a total of 10 charges related to the two incidents.
At Thursday’s shocking hearing, Loyd said he plans to represent himself in court and ended his rant by yelling “f — you!” to Bigney as he was led out of the courtroom.
It was the first time Loyd, who had on a green protective smock, appeared in court since he was tracked to a home in the west Orlando neighborhood of Carver Shores.
Normally, defendants remain quiet during their first court appearances, but Loyd used his as an opportunity to tell his side of the story, claiming he was defending himself in Dixon’s death.
Though Loyd surrendered and dropped two guns, police said he resisted while they tried to arrest him, so they used force, which left his face bloodied and swollen. A helicopter video of Loyd’s capture was released Thursday and appears to show officers kick Loyd at least twice.
When the kicking starts, the helicopter camera suddenly pans away and zooms out.
Loyd argued at his hearing that he didn’t resist and crawled out to the road, where officers were waiting for him.
“They done took my eye, they done broke my nose, broke my jaw, they did all this s —,” he said. “Said I resisted.”
Orlando police Chief John Mina held a press conference Thursday to discuss the video and announced the agency is investigating the use of force, which is customary anytime an officer uses force.